Young guns win cup shoot-out

CUP OF JOY: Athletic’s under-18s celebrate their cup success.

RYAN Ellison struck the winning penalty as Athletic’s under-18s claimed a dramatic shoot-out victory over Blackpool in the final of the Lancashire FA Youth Cup at Bloomfield Road.

Sam Roscoe had given the hosts, who finished one place ahead of Tony Philliskirk’s side as Football League Youth Alliance North-West Conference champions, the lead with 15 minutes left.

That goal came 10 minutes after Athletic had been reduced to 10 men, with George Edmundson

dismissed for bringing down Dominic Telford as he homed in on goal.

But Danny Byrnes struck a terrific equaliser into the top corner in the final minute to level the score.

And in the shoot-out that followed, captain Tom Clarke, Will Kinder and leading scorer Jordan Bove all converted their penalties while goalkeeper Joel Coleman saved twice.